West Point Grey is a neighbourhood in the northwest of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is on Point Grey and bordered by 16th Avenue to the south, Alma Street to the east, English Bay to the north, and Blanca Street to the west. Notable beaches within West Point Grey include Spanish Banks, Locarno and Jericho. Immediately to the south is Pacific Spirit Regional Park and to the east is Kitsilano.
The main commercial area with shops and restaurants is along West 10th Avenue between Tolmie Street and Discovery Street. North of West 4th Avenue, the area slopes steeply downhill where it meets English Bay at Locarno Beach and the Spanish Banks.
Demographics
In 2016, West Point Grey had an estimated population of 13,065 of the total 631,485 residents in the City of Vancouver.[1] Its population has remained relatively stable from 2011, when it was 12,795. The 2016 Canadian Census reported a median household income of $84,951 in the neighbourhood, nearly $20,000 higher than the City of Vancouver median income of $65,423.[1] The most common first language in 2016 was English at 63.6 percent, with Chinese second at 18.9 percent. In 2001, English was at 75.1 percent and Chinese second at 9.3 percent.
West Point Grey is home to the Jericho Lands, composed of two parcels of land with a total area of 36 hectares (90 acres). In a historic agreement in 2014, the larger eastern parcel was acquired by a joint ownership group composed of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (50%) and Canada Lands Company (50%).[6] In 2016, the same Nations and CLC acquired the smaller western parcel from the provincial government, in the same proportions. In both acquisitions, the Nations acquired almost half of their stake at no charge from the federal and provincial governments.[7] The entire area is slated for redevelopment and initial public engagement began in March 2019 in conjunction with the City of Vancouver.[8]
To the west, the Jericho Hill Grounds is a 15-hectare (38-acre) property formerly owned by the provincial government and houses the West Point Grey Academy private school. The eastern 21-hectare (52-acre) parcel is termed the "Jericho Garrison property" and was previously owned by the Department of Defence. It housed various military branches throughout the 20th century. The 39 Canadian Brigade Group, headquarters for all the Canadian Forces' Army Primary Reserve units in British Columbia, previously had its headquarters in the northeastern section of the neighbourhood, which is home to Vancouver's largest youth hostel.[citation needed]
According to ancient First Nations legend, Point Grey is the "Battleground of the West Wind". The rock representing the god of the West Wind, which is sitting off the point, is called Homolsom. As the rock is sitting between their two territories, Homolsom is half a Squamish word and half a Fraser River language word.[9]
Festivals
Fiesta Days, a family oriented carnival, is held along 10th Avenue and at Trimble Park in June, with rides, games, performances and a parade.[10]
Notes
^Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
^Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
References
^ abc"West Point Grey"(PDF). vancouver.ca. City of Vancouver. Archived(PDF) from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
^Heather Whiteside (March 2019). "The state's estate: Devaluing and revaluing 'surplus' public land in Canada". Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space. 51 (2). Sage Publishing: 521. doi:10.1177/0308518X17723631. ISSN1472-3409. Retrieved 14 March 2024. land deal was worth C$237 million. CLC paid for half and owns half, the federal government provided the First Nations groups with 28 percent as per the accommodation agreement, and the three First Nations groups negotiated an additional 22 percent equity stake. In 2016, another 38.8 acres were obtained from the provincial government, worth C$480 million, consolidating the 90 acres now known as Jericho Lands. Also structured as an accommodation agreement, the province gave the First Nations groups C$96 million toward their half of the joint venture land purchase
